Shieldhill vendor was a familiar face

Pictured is William Glassey's grandfather David Skinner and his mother Eba circa 1930

When William Glassey picked up his Falkirk Herald last week, he was surprised to see a picture of his mother and grandfather.

The image was printed with an appeal for more information and Mr Glassey, from Shieldhill, recognised it straight away as he too has a copy.

He said: “The ice cream vendor was my grandfather David Skinner and the wee girl pictured peeking out between the horses legs is my mother Elizabeth, or Eba, Skinner.

“The picture was taken on Shieldhill Main Street, near the old pit masters house, which is now where the Cladhan public house is, and that is where the family was living at the time.”

While even ice cream vans are increasingly becoming a rarity, in years gone by dairies would use a horse and cart for making deliveries.

Mr Glassey continued: “My grandfather worked for Crosshall Dairies, based in Shieldhill.

“This picture must have been taken around 1930, judging by how young my mother looks and she was born in 1926.

“Sadly I never got to meet my grandfather, he died in 1932 aged just 29 from a heart condition. His youngest son was only 10 months old at the time but I’ve heard lots of stories passed down about him from the family.

“It’s hard to imagine a time when a horse and cart would have been used in Shieldhill for ice cream deliveries now.”